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Old 09-15-2003, 12:23 PM   #1
phantasm
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Default Best Spark Plugs?

I'm getting close to my 60K service for my WRX with TurboXS Stage 2 kit. In doing some searching through the forums here, it seems people are either partial to the NGK BKR6 range of plugs (i.e. the VPower or Iridium) or to the Denso Iridium IK22 Spark Plugs .

Some claim that the Denso's provide more power, better gas mileage, and last just a long as platinum. Others claim that the NGK's are better, cheaper, and provide more HP.

So my question is:

With what spark plugs have you replaced your WRX with, your mods, and your before and after impressions of replacing the plugs in terms of HP, Gas Mileage, and Wear?
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Old 09-16-2003, 09:03 AM   #2
phantasm
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37 reads and not one comment?
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Old 09-16-2003, 09:43 AM   #3
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Probably because for most people, spark plugs don't make much of a difference.
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Old 09-16-2003, 12:35 PM   #4
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Mentally speaking, anything is better than the stock Champion plugs. But coppers are supposed to give you more power, and fancier ones are just ones that you don't have to replace regularly. The WRC car even used NGK coppers so why bother with anything else?
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Old 09-16-2003, 02:44 PM   #5
phantasm
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How often do you have to replace the copper ones?

I've been debating between the NGK VPower's, Iridiums, Standard, and the Deso Iridium IK22's.

They are all over the map in terms of pricing but to me it's more about getting something that will be an improvement over the stockers.
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Old 09-16-2003, 05:21 PM   #6
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Coppers need to be replaced ever year
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Old 09-16-2003, 07:06 PM   #7
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Well, I just took the stock plugs out (which were NGK PFR6G), and replaced them with NGK V-power (BKR6E). My butt dyno is not very sensitive, and the engine sounds just like before, and the power feels just like before.
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Old 09-16-2003, 10:22 PM   #8
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Are the V Power's copper, platinum, or iridium?
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Old 09-16-2003, 10:46 PM   #9
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You want the best conductor? SILVER, other than that copper, other than that you are getting ripped off.
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Old 09-17-2003, 06:49 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally posted by phantasm
Are the V Power's copper, platinum, or iridium?
The V-power is copper core.
I got them because they are the only plugs the Napa I went to carry. They have to order me platinum plugs if I want them.
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Old 09-17-2003, 01:11 PM   #11
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With as many miles (22,000) I put on my car a year, I don't know if cu is the best spark plug for me. Thanks for your feedback...
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Old 09-17-2003, 10:15 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally posted by phantasm
With as many miles (22,000) I put on my car a year, I don't know if cu is the best spark plug for me. Thanks for your feedback...
Thats not very many miles. If you knew you wanted the gimmicked-out iridiums you shouldnt have asked
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Old 09-18-2003, 10:58 AM   #13
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I guess I was more curious as to which manufacturer to choose and also needed some convincing on which way to go. I wasn't really sure how long coppers would last or if the benefit of Iridiums outweighed the coppers. Seems more of a matter of preference rather than anything technical.
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Old 09-18-2003, 11:58 AM   #14
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Coppers give "more power" and last about a year.
Platinum and Iridium give "less power" and can last a long time.

The power difference is QUITE small (as in .0000234 HP) and totally unnoticeable, so ask yourself wether you want to swap out plugs once a year or every 30-60k miles depending on plug type and decide from there.
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Old 09-19-2003, 09:45 PM   #15
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Default plugs

I have the Vishnu Stage 1. Shiv included the NGK BKR7ES-11 (part # 2387) with the upgrade. It is one temperature range colder than stock. This provides an extra margin of safety and very little, if any, added horsepower. I would be wary of anyone claiming that a spark plug alone, will provide any noticeable increase in horsepower or torque.
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Old 09-19-2003, 11:47 PM   #16
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What is the composition of these plugs?
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Old 09-20-2003, 12:38 AM   #17
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The coppers wearing out faster is a good thing in my mind. It gets me around to inspect the plugs to tell how the engine is running!

The price difference between coppers and plat is significant. Ill use copper plugs in any vehicle I currently or ever own.
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Old 09-20-2003, 12:59 AM   #18
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I've used all the big gimmick plugs - Torquemasters, (takes you back a few years, huh?) SplitFire (not in the sube), Bosch +4, Densos - No real difference. If Iridium really lasts longer than platinum ,I'd go there - only coz it' s such a PITA to change them.
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Old 09-22-2003, 11:54 AM   #19
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In reading the Scoobymods procedure, I'm of the same opinion. The coppers may be 1/10th the cost but given the time to install, the value is there is only having to do it once every couple of years.
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Old 09-23-2003, 02:53 AM   #20
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Default plugs

So my current tirbo ride is a twin stick turbo colt, not too many offered for it...the copper ones I took out were in great shape.........the next best I could get were ac rapidfire which cone to a small tip...ive got 2k miles on them and just checked them and their great and equal. I even run them in my gn and ive a homemade freon intercooler at 18 psi and have melted many brands but the ac rapidfires seem to hold well.....
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Old 09-23-2003, 11:53 PM   #21
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Stage 2 and 60K miles? You are missing a few potential horses from the engine. I took my stock plugs at 17K and found #4 was not torque properly by Subaru. The plug was overheating a little. I use champion copper and it ran much better, but there is some tendency to mis-fired (engine jerks when boost comes on quickly) Two weeks ago, I changed it to the Autolite double platinums. Car runs very good, and I even left the gap at >30. BTW, I used to have a 351 that would not fire on one cylinder (the header outlet on that cylinder was touchable!) No thing works until I tried split fire on that cylinder.
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Old 09-24-2003, 06:34 PM   #22
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I usually run copper plugs. Since I drag race alot of plenty of dyno pulls, I want fresh plugs. I change my roughtly every 7-8 miles.

I use the NGK BKR7E or AutoLite 3922.

Now the thing that you should be more focused on is the gap.
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Old 09-25-2003, 04:13 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally posted by Need4Boost
I usually run copper plugs. Since I drag race alot of plenty of dyno pulls, I want fresh plugs. I change my roughtly every 7-8 miles.

I use the NGK BKR7E or AutoLite 3922.

Now the thing that you should be more focused on is the gap.
7 - 8 miles? Wow, I'd have to change my plugs 10 times a day on my way to and from work.
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Old 01-04-2004, 09:51 PM   #24
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Default Re: plugs

Quote:
Originally posted by BlueBullet
I have the Vishnu Stage 1. Shiv included the NGK BKR7ES-11 (part # 2387) with the upgrade. It is one temperature range colder than stock. This provides an extra margin of safety and very little, if any, added horsepower. I would be wary of anyone claiming that a spark plug alone, will provide any noticeable increase in horsepower or torque.
I just found those spark plugs on Kragen.com link for only $2.99 each - that's a $1.34 savings over the regular in-store price! :P Including $5.26 s/h thats only $18.18. I just called a Kragen store by me and they had the stock spark plugs for $4.59 before tax. I'm going to call Shiv tomorrow and make sure these are best for my Vishnu Stage II, but I reckon I'm going to be ordering them from the website
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Old 01-05-2004, 11:34 AM   #25
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The -11 plug is the wrong plug for the WRX.

The -11 means that they are pre-gapped at ~.044" and to achieve the proper .027"-.031" gap the ground electrode must be bent too far, ruining the symmetry of the gap.
This whole subject has been discussed at length here in these forums, recently.
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